Lobularia plant named ‘Balbeezite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lobularia plant named ‘Balbeezite’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lobularia maritima.

Variety denomination: ‘Balbeezite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobularia plant botanically known as Lobularia maritima and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balbeezite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during October 2014. The objective of the breeding program was the development Lobularia cultivars that have an extended flowering season and a moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Lobularia cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Lobularia maritima breeding selection coded BW036-001, not patented, characterized by its light lavender-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, mounded-spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during July 2015 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2015 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balbeezite’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Lobularia plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a different flower color, and more prolific flowering.

Of the many commercially available Lobularia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is WHITE KNIGHT ‘Inlbuwikni’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,210. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Inlbuwikni’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Inlbuwikni’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have shorter but wider leaves than         plants of ‘Inlbuwikni’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balbeezite’. The plants were grown in 4-inch containers for approximately 7 weeks in a glass-covered greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balbeezite’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescences of ‘Balbeezite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in November 2017 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 68° F. to 72° F. (20° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 64° F. to 66° F. (18° C. to 19° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Lobularia maritima ‘Balbeezite’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Lobularia maritima breeding             selection coded BW036-001, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 4 to 5 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Annual, moderately             vigorous, mounded-spreading.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 9.0 cm. Width: Approximately 24.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 8.         -   Branch.—Shape: Rounded and slightly ribbed. Strength:             Strong, flexible. Length to base of inflorescence:             Approximately 9.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.5 mm. Length             of central internode: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture: Densely             pubescent with appressed hairs. Color of young stems: 146C.             Color of mature stems: 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 9. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole at acute angle to stem, tips             downward turning with age. Shape: Lanceolate. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 3.5 cm to             4.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 7.0 mm to             8.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             pubescent with appressed hairs. Color of upper surface of             young and mature foliage: 137B with midvein of 146C, other             venation indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young             and mature foliage: Closest to 138A with midvein of 146D,             other venation indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with appressed hairs.             Color: 146D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balbeezite’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming throughout the spring.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             4 to 5 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal corymb. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 50. Fragrance: Sweetly fragrant. Length             or height: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width: Approximately             2.5 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 30.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Length: Approximately             1.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous.             Color: 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Small, cruciferous flowers, freely flowering, not             persistent.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Globose. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Color: Sepals of 146B; petals of 158B.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Cruciform lobes with claws surrounded by             calyx. Aspect: Facing upward and outward. Width:             Approximately 6.0 cm. Depth: Approximately 2.0 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 4. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Obtuse, often notched. Base: Attenuate. Length of lobe:             Approximately 3.0 cm. Width of lobe: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Length of claw: Approximately 1.0 mm. Width of claw: Less             than 1.0 mm. Color of upper surface of lobe when first and             fully open: NN155D. Color of lower surface of lobe when             first and fully open: NN155D. Color of upper and lower             surfaces of claw: 146D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, distinct. Shape: Elliptic.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture             of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface:             Moderately pubescent with appressed hairs. Color of inner             and outer surfaces: Centers of 146B; margins of NN155D.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             perpendicular to peduncle. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm.             Diameter: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with             appressed hairs. Color: 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 6 per             flower. Stamen length: Approximately 1.5 mm, 1 pair slightly             shorter and inserted lower. Filament color: 145C. Anther             shape: Bithecous, dorsifixed. Anther color: 15A. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 15B. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity: 1 per flower, ovary superior. Pistil length:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Capitate. Stigma color:             145B. Style color: 145C. Style length: Less than 1.0 mm.             Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary texture: Densely             pubescent with appressed hairs. Ovary color: 145B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Lobularia has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobularia plant named ‘Balbeezite’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 